Ethics

1.0 Abstract
This study will investigate the impacts of computer on children. To ensure the intended analysis is achieved, the study will explore the crucial issues of learning, social and psychological development, entertainment and health which may be affected by childrens computer use. The major hypothesis that will be tested is there are no detrimental effects on children using computers and other related technologies, such as the internet. As will be pointed out in the research, computers and the internet have become essential in todays world. However, they have been received with mixed reactions with several people terming them beneficial to children, while others discouraging early exposure to children due to the likely adverse effects. To aid this study, ten parents, twenty teachers and a hundred children (between the ages of three to twelve years) will be interviewed and the questions to be used will be

2.0 Introduction
In recent years, computers have become a tremendous and indispensable part of the society. They have changed individuals sense, time and space. Besides, they have profoundly impacted on the lives of many children worldwide. Through extensive utilization, children have become strongly associated with computers in places, such as childcare centres, schools and homes. The traditional approaches of classroom learning have greatly changed, as computers plus other related technologies like the internet are presently playing a major role in childrens development (Sanger et al., 1997). The intense, excessive or extreme use of computers has left a number of parents, educators and other concern individuals to speculate whether this is beneficial or harmful. Researches have indicated that computers contain an insightful impact on various critical issues of childrens lives, such as education, health, entertainment, social and psychological relationship. The association between children and computer lies in nothing but in two extremes of either being detrimental or helpful. Devoid of appropriate and timely supervision, children may end up suffering from psychological, social and physical consequences from prolonged use of computer and related technologies. On the other hand, appropriate guidance from both parents and educators can enable children to acquire valuable experience with computers, thereby lessening the anticipated negative effects (Sanger et al., 1997)

2.1 Research Question
The focus of the proposed paper covers the area of computers and other interrelated technologies, such as the internet in children. The primary objective is to explore and examine the impacts of computers on children. A fundamental approach and backing secondary resources will be utilized in the research paper which will be strongly guided by the primary research question
What are the consequences of computer exposure on children
To effectively explore and analyze the fundamental research question, a number of extra questions will be extracted from the primary one and utilized to widen the scope of research by analyzing specific critical issues that could impact children by using computers. The specific additional questions that will be explored comprise
What are the consequences of computer on early childhood learning
How do computers and other related technologies affect the social and psychological development of children
What are the effects of computer entertainment programs, such as computer games on children
Are there any beneficial or harmful impacts of extensive use of computers on the health of children

2.2 Hypothesis
H1 there are no detrimental effects on children using computers and other related technologies like the internet.

3.0 Literature Review
According to a study by Haugland (2003), children of the age three to four years are developmentally set to use or explore computer functions, thus educators always perceive computer centres as helpful to childrens learning. Young children are curious and comfortable clicking a number of functions to observe what would happen next. As well, Research has indicated that children who utilize computer along with other supporting activities, which strengthen the objectives of learning have appreciably greater developmental benefits than children with no computer skills. Haugland (2003) asserted that the use of computer programs in classroom learning benefits children in acquiring skills in a number of areas, including typing, vocabulary, mathematics, conceptual and abstraction skills. The advantages of offering computer learning programs to primary-grade or kindergarten children differ depending on the type of computer skills provided and how often children have access to computers.

The probable benefits for primary and kindergarten are incredible, comprising enhanced motor skills, improved mathematical thinking, increased creativity, problem solving and elevated scores on critical thinking tests. Additionally, computer use in learning improves childrens self concept, and also allows children to depict increasing levels of cooperation and spoken communication. Children share various roles, including leadership more often and develop optimistic attitudes towards learning process (Haugland, 2003). Similarly, Isikoglus (2003) research found that there is a positive relationship between computer use and childrens metacognition. Having regular access to computer or using a computer at home has shown to have a positive impact on metacognitive development of children. On contrary, there are several individual who fear use of computers in the early childhood learning as they anticipate negative impacts on cognitive development of children. According to research conducted by Elkind (1998), computer learning software for children is both detrimental and wasteful. The research further avers that computer programs never match with childrens learning styles and thus they are not a best choice for developing learning skills in children (Elkind, 1998).

That said, computers and other interrelated technologies like the internet have been described by several credible researchers as a double edged sword to children. This is because while they offer various learning opportunities to children, the internet and computers expose young children to negative contents. Though the internet offers essential benefits, such as socialization, research access, family communication and entertainment, it predisposes children to negative issues, such as hate sites, commercialism, violence, predators, pornography and isolation (Cheon, 2005). There are lots of website that have been considered injurious to children, and they include those that are sturdily devoted to negative content like violent online games, pornography as well as gambling. According to Cheon (2005) twenty five percent of the 1, 501 children interviewed of between the ages of ten to seventeen years reported getting exposed to pornographic materials while accessing the internet. Thus, allowing children utilize this technology unmonitored may perhaps adversely affect their psychological development, as admittance to explicit sexually material at a tender age can be very harmful to a childs well-being. Whats more, Cheon (2005) indicated that children exposed to violent computer games are more likely to be violent, hostile and aggressive and antisocial than those devoid of such exposure.
Conversely, both the internet and computers have greatly modernized the way people communicate, permitting children to maintain and make new-fangled friends online. Websites like MySpace, Facebook and E-mail are well recognized worldwide and are broadly used by children in either making new online friends or maintaining old ones. This has provided children with a novel source of interaction, where they are able send and receive messages worldwide in just a moment. Todd and Swaminathan (2002) stated that through web applications, such as YouTube, Facebook and Myspace, children are able to share ideas and express their creativity with the rest of the world. Besides, when children are interacting through computer technologies they acquired several social skills, including problem solving, conflict resolution and cooperative learning strategies (Todd and Swaminatham, 2002).

Entertainment through computer games is becoming one of the valuable activities of children in the current world. Various studies have indicated a negative relationship between amount of computer game played and childrens school performance (e.g.  Gentile et al., 2004). Generally, a preponderance of researches indicates that children who spend much of their time playing computer games perform poorly in schools. However, the contents f computer games children involve in could greatly influence the connection between poor performance in schools and amount of play. For instance, if children or kindergartens play educational games, they are less expected to portray deficiency in school performance, whist children who play non-educational computer games often perform poorly (Gentile et al., 2004).

Even though computer games are solely designed to provide entertainment to children, most of them comprise violent contents. The recent investigation of computer games show that a whopping eighty nine percent of computer games encompass some violent information. This implies that majority of the computer games being played by children contain violence. The popularity of violent computer games has encouraged research on the probable injurious impacts on children as well as adolescents (Gentile et al., 2004). On the other hand, a study conducted by Cheung and Chen (2009) found that computer games facilitate childrens learning process. The finding showed that computer games not only enhance childrens fact recall processes, but also encourages problem solving skills through identifying manifold solutions for problems. The study further indicated that well designed computer games can replace conventional teaching approaches, such and lectures as well as textbooks (Cheung and Chen, 2009).
That aside various scholarly literatures show that computer use in children has both beneficial as well as harmful impacts on health. For instance, certain computer programs or games which are utilized as a comprehensive program may provide intervention for autistic children. Also, children experiencing painful intervention for diseases, such as cancer may use specific computer programs or inimitably designed computer games to divert themselves from an extended period of pain (Goldsmith  LeBlanc, 2004). Researches have as well found that computer use can greatly enhance childrens mental faculties like eye-hand coordination. For instance, extra intelligent computer games like puzzle and strategy games can enhance problem solving, thereby providing rational stimulation. However, there is an array of reported negative impacts of computers on the health of children. Most of these negative impacts are as a result of prolonged or extensive use of computer. Children susceptible to photosensitive and epileptic seizures are likely to experience convulsions due to rapid flickering of the screen, especially when playing games. Too, computer use renders children to sedentary kind of lifestyle with poor exercise or inactive (Charpe, 2009). This predisposes them to ailments, such as back pain, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heartmuscle problems.  

4.0 Methodology
The fundamental aim of this research will be to explore the impacts of computer on children. For this aim to be achieved, the research will adopt both primary as well as secondary materials to collect data that will be analyzed later to explore the fundamental research question. In 1987, Patton asserted that adopting primary and secondary materials is advantageous in any research, as it escalates the accuracy and validity of the gathered information. Primary information will be collected mainly by use of in-detail interviews with10 parents, 20 teachers and 100 children (3-13) who the researcher believes that they have pertinent information regarding computer use in children. The rationale is that their verbal responses may roughly mirror significant veracity on the ground. Bearing in mind that computer use by children has been received with mixed reactions, its therefore expected that parents, teachers and even children themselves would be well familiar with effects of computers on critical issues, such as education, health, entertainment, social and psychological development.

Though primary information is given the first priority, in most cases it reflects personal experiences and views. Thus, the researcher intends to utilize secondary information through thorough literature review steered by already developed theoretical frameworks on effects of computers, particularly in children. An in-depth document research will be carried out to guarantee that the researcher just utilizes valid and reliable research data. Thus, the entire research will adopt positivist research method that will assist improve the reliability and accuracy of the research results. Positivist philosophical paradigm involves, quantification of variable measures, hypothesis testing and drawing of deductions from the findings. This philosophical paradigm enriches the research course by relating actual data with well researched and already developed information on the study in question (Corbin and Anselm). Interview has been agreed to as the preferred method for gathering primary information because its more flexible and adaptable than other methods, such as questionnaire used in primary data collection. Seidel (1998), avers that interview is a better method of gathering primary information, as it integrates not just formal responses, but also captures communications which can never be gathered using a questionnaire. Such communications include body language, voice tone and facial expressions of the interviewer. The researcher is consequently certain of the potential of gathering information which could have been overlooked if a questionnaire method was utilized.

As earlier pointed out, ten parents, twenty teachers and a hundred children (3-13) will be approached to be respondents in this study. The researcher believes that their amalgamation will donate substantially to pragmatic, sensible and practical views of the computers effects on children. To guarantee reliability of the interview data, questions will emanate from available literature materials on the research subject to ensure that crucial issues and vital computer-children related questions are covered conclusively. According to Seidel (1998), existing literature is very helpful in developing interview questions, as it allows the researcher(s) to supplely structure questions to gather just pertinent data on the particular research. Whats more, much effort will be geared toward structuring interview questions in way to primarily gather realistic data as contrasted to individual opinions. Realistic information is considered to be more accurate than personal opinions in a study, since opinions are susceptible to changes and they are both theoretically unreliable and subjective.

5.0 Reflection
This section covers some of the sensible issues that may hinder the researcher from acquiring the necessary data as well as upholding to the subject under study. The researcher is conscious of the following issues which may influence the way in which this research will be done.

Access of materials Interviewees will give their consent, but the researcher is aware that crucial issues can come up making them unavailable during the schedule time of interview. As a precaution against this, significant time will be allocated by the researcher to efficiently cater for any surprising circumstances.

The researcher anticipates teaming up with the interviewees to access inside literature materials, but there are probabilities that all sources of interest may never be obtained and this may adversely affect the gathering of secondary data.

Ethical considerations the researcher is pretty conscious of ethical considerations, mostly that of permission and confidentiality. The researcher is dedicated to adhere to all aspects of professionalism when conducting the study and will ensure that material gathered in the study will be utilized for the intended purpose. Moreover, the researcher will write a formal interview request to all interviewees as a way of seeking permission. Its the expectation of the researcher that obtaining a formal written consent from the proposed respondents will act as an excellent tool to signify their commitment and permission to accept the interview.

6.0 Conclusion
The study will investigate the consequences of computer use in children. The major focus will be on the critical issues which will be utilized to investigate the impacts of computers on children. In appreciation that computers and other related technologies like the internet have increasingly become part of the society, this research will as well seek to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of early exposure of children to this novel technology. After receiving feedback from the instructor regarding this proposal, the researcher will then continue to collect the essential resources, comprising literature review and interview schedules. This will later be followed by a steady collection of relatable information in accordance to the schedule set in the Gantts chart. This research is quite heartening, bearing in mind the approaches adopted for data collection and the researcher is optimistic that it will not just impel peoples knowledge on the impacts of computers on children, but will as well donate to a sturdy professional and academic development in this area.

7.0 Time Schedule
The time allocation for dissimilar tasks throughout the research project is clearly stipulated in the Gantts chart below. (All dates are tentative)
ID Task Name April 2010MayMayMayJune260430041055051005110525052605310510610061.Abstract Review
2.Literature review
3.Interviewing  Document Search
4.Data Analysis  Evaluation
5.Write up Dissertation
6Submit Dissertation